Labrdor Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, mixed retriever breeds as well as all water dogs (including Portuguese Water Dogs) can have more enriched lives by learning training techniques used by duck hunters.
Once the owner of a retriever has learned the skills to teach his dog all he can be in the field a new world opens up. Training your retriever can become a highlight of family activities and at the same time give the retriever all the exercise he needs.
Too often retriever owners make the mistake of assuming only hunting dogs need to be taught marks and lines. But it is these lessons that keep the dog exercised and at the same time fulfills the basic need - to retrieve. Not just throwing a toy a few feet but rather retrieves from a distance. This is referred to as a mark. Canvas and plastic training dummies are used for this exercise.
A single mark is the best exersise to teach your dog to mark. You will need a helper to throw the dummy. Double marks can motivate the dog to return quickly to retrieve another mark.
You will will have a very enjoyable training session as long as each participant understands his job. The field course
explains step-by-step how to execute this fun exercise.
A message to the non-hunter
"have more fun training your retriever"
Jean Smith's Retriever Training Course
Teach Me Please Dog Series Inc.
P.O. BOX 1515
St Helens, Or. 97051
1-800-833-1913
